Sumbawa Island
Sumbawa is an island in Indonesia, continuing the Nusa Tenggara chain after Bali and Lombok, larger than the two combined, but completely undeveloped by tourists. Its 800,000 inhabitants, as they did decades ago, farm, seek happiness in the cities and fish. The gold reserves found have attracted thousands of prospectors who descend daily into the mines, the second largest after the Papuan mines. The population practices traditional Islam, expressed in the strict dress code of the women and the muezzin’s thunderous morning calls to prayer. Many speak 3 – 4 languages – Sumbaw, Bima, Sasak and Indonesian Bahasa. The locals are not yet spoiled by tourism and are extremely hospitable, trying to help foreigners at the first opportunity. The sight of a tourist arouses keen curiosity in many of them, especially in very remote areas. The Sumbavians are very poor and the sum of 5,000 – 10,000 Rp for real help makes them feel deeply grateful.
General Information
The climate on Sumbawa Island is subtropical, dominated by Australian-type vegetation. To the world, Sumbawa is known as the site of the most destructive volcanic eruption in human history. Yes, yes, it was not Vesuvius or Krakatoa that killed the most people. The explosion of the Gunung Tambora volcano on the northern edge in 1815 killed more than 80,000 islanders, an official record. Climbing to the majestic crater of Tambora is possible, but only if you are physically fit.
.The island is clearly divided into a western part centered on Sumbawa Besar (Sumbawa Besar) and an eastern part centered on Bima (Bima). Between them, a single narrow highway with a fairly good surface stretches across the island. Already in the eastern part of the island it passes through the town of Dompu, from where you can reach the southern coast and the village of Hu’u. Lakey’s Beach is another of the island’s world-class surfing destinations, a hotspot for the most reckless wave tamers who shun tourist destinations. They are hosted by several hotels (Primadonna Laey Cottages, Mona Lisa Bungalows).
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Sumbawa Besar is considered the capital of the island, where there is even a small airport. Flying there, however, only “Fokkers” airline “Trigana”, acting as an airline with stops Denpasar (Bali) – Mataram (Lombok) – Sumbawa Besar – Bima (there is also an airfield) – Labuanbajo (Flores). The schedule changes all the time, departures are postponed and rescheduled, and each segment costs about $40. Merpati Airlines flies 4 times a week from Denpasar to Bima, but most travelers and locals still prefer regular water service.
.Territorially, Sumbawa is nestled between Lombok and Flores. It is connected to the former by the ferry from Labuan Lombok to Poto Tano (once an hour, 24 hours, 2 hours, 10,000 Rp) and to the latter by the ferry from Sape to Labuanbajo (1 trip a day, 9.00, 8 hours, 50,000 Rp). Since getting from Porto Tano to the capital is problematic, it is best to buy a ticket for the Mataram to Sumbawa Besar bus (6 hrs, 70,000 Rp) or the trans-island comfortable bus from Jakarta, traveling with stops all the way to the Sape crossing.
.Sumbawa Besar
Sumbawa Besar is a small sleeping town 60 kilometers from the crossing at Poto Tano. Tourists used to stop here to see the palace of the local Sultan Dalam Loka (‘Dalam Loka) built in 1885, one of the largest wooden structures in the world. Its 99 columns symbolized the 99 names of Allah. Alas, it has been dismantled for restoration for 4 years now, but it is still there. On the street Jl. Merdeka built a new imposing palace, already made of stone, where the local officials sit. More nothing Sumbawa Besar is not remarkable and is used by tourists only as a transit point to Bima and further to Flores or Komodo Island. The Sumurpayung bus station is west of town, 10,000 Rp by motorcycle. All buses from Lombok and Bima (7 hours, 70,000 Rp) come here and depart from here as well.
.Bima
A compact town that resembles a district center, all in horse-drawn dokar carts. Tourists arriving at the bus station disperse to small hotels and lodges for an early morning start to the port of Sape (2.5 hours by minibus, 15,000 Rp). There’s little to see in town except for the 1927-built former Sultan’s Palace (Jl. Sultan Ibrahim).
.Sape
A small village on the eastern tip of Sumbawa and at the same time a port. The road from Bima loops through the mountain slopes and is quite scenic. On the approach to Sapa you can already believe that you have arrived in . These two wonder islets off the north coast of Sumbawa are popular stopping places for all the tourist boats going from Bali and Lombok to Komodo. Moyo is quite large and two-thirds of it is a reserve with rare species of animals. Its shores are fringed with coral reefs, which are home to untold hordes of exotic fish. Accommodation on the island is possible only in the resort “Amanwama” super-luxe class with luxury cottages for wealthy Japanese, Singaporeans and other solid public (from $ 700 per day). Travel agencies in Sumbawa Besar organize safari and dive tours to Moyo. In the dry season, a boat can be hired to the island from the Kencana Cottages Hotel (40 min, from Rp 150,000). Satonda is a tiny uninhabited piece of land, captivating in its beauty. The most incredible thing is that it is actually a basalt volcano with its own caldera, where you can walk along a path and imagine what will happen when this underwater mountain rumbles like its nearest neighbor Tambora. The forest around the caldera is full of flying dogs and their squeals. The beaches of Satonda are covered with volcanic pumice that floats in the water, giving the illusion of an eruption that happened as if it were yesterday. . To get to Satonda on your own, you can drive to Dompu and from there to the coastal village of Kananga, from which it takes only 15 minutes by boat to reach Satonda. . Tourist boats charge $130 for a 4-day Lombok – Moyo – Satonda – Komodo cruise in the dry season for an economy class fare and $300 for an emerald class cabin. The islands of Moyo (Pulau Moyo) and Satonda (Pulau Satonda)
